"We are fortunate to bring a respected leader with strong community ties to the team at the Office of Intergovernmental Relations." said Nick Harper, director of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations. "Edie's experience as a successful non-profit executive and senior advisor in state government will help us as we work with our regional partners to do great things for the residents of Seattle."

Most recently, Gilliss served as Interim Executive Director of Washington Conservation Voters, the political arm of Washington's environmental community. There, Gilliss provided the strategy behind the organization's campaign to elect Governor Jay Inslee, worked with elected officials to pass regional and statewide environmental legislation, and developed ties with candidates and elected officials around the region.

"I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve the city of Seattle in the Office of Intergovernmental Relations," said Gilliss. "As the Mayor takes on many of our region’s most pressing problems, I share his belief that we can best solve these problems by working together."

From 2008-2011 Gilliss served as Senior Advisor to Commissioner of Public Lands, Peter Goldmark, where she managed his transition team, helping to hiring his executive management team and working to implement Goldmark's strategic initiatives and the development of the Department of Natural Resources' Strategic Plan.

Gilliss has a Bachelor of Arts in Evolutionary Biology and Political Science from Duke University and a Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Washington. She starts on May 21. Her annual salary will be $110,000.